Sharing the gospel has been our daily activity. Except for last Saturday, pretty much everyday we’ve been sharing the gospel. And the cool part is, we’ve been seeing so many people accept Jesus for the first time. Last week, we went through Island EE for 3 days. Every evening, we go out to the streets in town to just witness. So far, I’ve talked to mostly people from the bus station just because they’re waiting and have time to chat. I’m glad for this opportunity, because back home, I’d never be able to commit to going out everyday to share the gospel. This morning I shared a devotion about how to make witnessing our way of life. I think this one week plus has allowed me to experience a whole new meaning to witnessing as a way of life. So dear Reader, how can u make witnessing for Jesus Christ your daily activity?
Just came back from OJT. We managed to share with this 18 year old Indian girl and she prayed to receive Jesus! Praise the Lord! The sad thing is, she comes from a Hindu family and at this point in time, she is not ready to go to church regularly yet due to fear of family objections. I am feeling really sad about this. She was very attentive the whole time we were sharing, asking questions and accepting new ideas. I’m very excited for her. I just hope that the seed planted will grow into a firmly planted tree. Please pray for her and other Indian converts here in Fiji as they face similar family objections as people from back home. This morning, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the cultural change that I’ve plunged into. Was feeling a little upset with myself for feeling agitated about the changes. But after a time of prayer and a bit of sharing with the other girls, I think I finally came out of my “shell” and I’m now enjoying myself thoroughly. I’m happy for this opportunity I’ve been given to be away from home for a substantial period of time, living in an entirely different culture. Growing up, I’ve always talked about one day becoming a missionary to a different people group. I guess this is one step closer towards that goal. (and Eunice says “I told you so”) I see God taking me step by step, teaching me one thing after the other. He definitely does not reveal everything to me all at once. Before coming here, I was kinda confused over why God would take me so far away from home for such a long time. I mean, home is where the work is. There’s so much things to do, so much things we could do during the holidays. With Youth Club, with half the Youth Leadership uncertain about where they’re going for university, it seems like such a terrible time to be leaving home. Don’t get me wrong, I am SURE that God wants me to be here. Just not sure WHY. Slowly, it’s becoming clearer. I still don’t have a definite answer though. But I’m not anxious because God’s timing is perfect. I don’t understand yet but I trust Him enough to know that He has a beautiful ending for me.
so things are going ok. getting to know the other people here.
this morning we had a session going throught the Myers-briggs personality type test. mine came out to be ENTJ. that means, i'm an Extrovert (only 1 point more than being an introvert so i'm kinda in the middle), a person relying more on intuition rather than senses, i'm a thinker not a feeler and lastly means i'm judgmental rather than perceptive. the results said nice things about me so i'm liking it haha.
went in to town in the afternoon. managed to get my new sim card. managed to find a key chain also so feeling satisfied with the quick trip.
everymorning, we go for a jog near the training centre. think about the old road in sepang/labu, that's how the environment around here is. so i was running beside sugar cane fields. i'll try to get some pictures up.
after some personal quiet time, there's a devotion altogether. after that, we go through a workbook by Henry and Norman Blackaby about calling and accountability. the workbook will last us the whole time we're here so that's fun. really helps us to think about things, put things in focus.
at night, we girls learned a traditional Fijian dance. don't laugh. don't think there was videos so i'm safe.
So I left KLIA at 8.45pm 13th June 2010 for my biggest adventure yet. As I write, I’m waiting at the Sydney airport. It is now 11.02am Australian local time, 9.02am Malaysian local time.
Just before I left, both my mom and aunt gave me the same travelling advice – don’t talk to strangers. So I guess I gotta be a mute for the next 2 months huh. Funny, funny family I have.
At Changi Airport I had to wait about 2 hours for my connecting flight to Sydney. Got myself a nice foot massage, explored their beautiful toilets, sat down for 10mins at their free movie theatre (Slumdog Millionaire was on), and tried to take some photos.
They were advertising their new butterfly park so I had to check it out. Was kinda disappointed coz I didn’t see ANY butterflies at all. I can’t remember my biology – can anybody remember if butterflies sleep at night too? So no butterfly photos for you, only the shape of a butterfly from flowers…
I don’t know why, but when travelling, people are somehow less friendly. Appropriate levels of fear were instilled in me to refrain from talking to strangers unless necessary since I, a young girl travelling alone, would be an easy target for people with not-so-good intentions. So I think the 7hour flight to Sydney was a rathe… weird flight experience for me. Although there was this good looking guy sitting next to me, we barely looked at each other the whole 7 hours. Too late to regret I guess. I blame it on the bad advice I was given.
Ok that’s all for now. Oh by the way, thanks for praying for my exams. Could have done better, but I did my best I guess. Like I said, too late to regret.
Wait up for my next blog. If it takes too long, you’ll know I’m having too much fun and have slowly forgotten all of you :p Just kidding.
Had a nice chat with a good friend this morning. made me realise something - nothing's been the same recently and i don't expect things to be the same anymore.
one way to look at it, i'm growing out of my shell, flying away like a butterfly. Things certainly have been getting better and better for me. more friends, meeting new people, seeing things from new perspectives.
yet, i miss the old comforts. people change, status change, life goes on. Things will never go back to what they were once were. I don't expect things to be exactly the same once i've returned from my trip. a little tweak here, a little tweak there, some good news, some bad news...
you either move on or you dwell on the past. The past is a good teacher. However, lessons taught but never applied means nothing. i guess i have to learn to move on. Keep being in the centre of God's will because that's where everything is under control.
Just wanna share with you a verse reminded to me by another wise teacher this week:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
This is gonna change too...
by the way, i did well for exams yesterday. thanks for all your prayers!
As I prepare for exams next week, i can't help but look back on the last time i took my exam and the events following. Yeah, failing is not good. But in my case, it could possibly be the best thing that happened to me.
because i failed, i was able to be part of the Congress of Nations for the EE ministry. Over that one week, although i was running up and down doing this and that, i was so privilleged to have met so many people from so many places. in that one week, i made my first Egyptian friend, my first Romanian friend, my first Finish friend etc.
But all this is background to my main point. It was at that one week, that i reconnected with Rod, who urged me once again to go to Fiji for a 6 week Intern's Training. Boy, was he persistent! And thank God for that! By the end of the week, let's just say i was totally convinced and here I am, packing to leave in a week. Of course, God provided in so many ways (as per His character).
A bit about this training. It's (supposed to be) a practical training for those between the ages of 18-30 who are considering coming into full time ministry, whether with EE or in other ministries. So we'll be taught what the Bible says about missions, we'll be going into the villages and helping out in practical ways, and spending lotsa time seeking and discovering the will of God.
So here i am, in the middle of the night, can't sleep, worrying about exams, excited about Fiji, thinking about my beloved youth group. I'm still amazed at how God works.
Also in April, another milestone for me, I had the opportunity to join 10 others from Malaysia on a trip to Bangladesh to teach Xee. This was my first experience teaching to a group who barely understood me but by the grace of God, managed to reproduce the whole outline by the end of the 3 day training. It was truly amazing to be a witness of a miracle at work. At that time, i felt the excitement of pioneering something new. The best part of the trip was that God was with us.
Last semester i failed quite largely due to my involvement with the church youth camp. If you ask me now, i say i'd do it all over again because i know God is a debtor to no one. And true enough, He always reserves the best for those who honours him.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Can't wait to get on that plane and, as Moses said before crossing the Red Sea, "stand and see what God is going to do."
Live a life of faith, my friends. Because He will never leave you nor forsake you.
This is the church where the Youth Rally was held. just a basic shed, everyone sat on the ground wearing skirts.
This is Nadi Christian Academy. We're in front doing the Meke (traditional Fijian dance). yeah, i know, i'm dancing. Fiji changes a person.
Langdon - our fearless leader in a Sulu
